About Us

Phil Unger, Owner and Repair Technician

Phil grew up in a house that was filled with the sound of his father's clarinet playing. It makes sense that Phil would pursue a life that revolves around instruments and helping people make music. As a child, Phil learned the Clarinet and later took up the Contrabass clarinet. He later enrolled and attended Ohio University and received a degree in Radio and Television, but over the years he never lost his passion for music. He realized early on that he had an innate ability to take things apart and put them back together again. After taking a repair class at the Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio in 1976, Phil decided to follow his passions for music and repair. He enrolled in the best musical instrument repair program in the country, Allied Repair School in Elkhorn, Wisconsin. It was while at Allied that he discovered his special talent for repairing flutes. He excelled in this department. After spending one year working and training in Wisconsin, Phil moved to Dallas to manage and repair for a large music store. Realizing the need for competency with professional flute repair, he decided he needed to learn much more. The techniques for repairing professional flutes are a world apart from those requirements needed to repair student flutes and require special training. Phil's desire to focus on professional flutes led him to apprentice as a private student with world-renowned repairman and flute maker, Jim Phelan at the Verne Q. Powell Flute Company in Boston. Phil continued his education at Powell by repeat visits to concentrate on different aspects of flute construction and restoration. Working side by side with Jim opened up a whole new world for Phil and really helped him to hone his professional flute repair skills. He opened his first business in 1980 across the street from Fair Park in historic downtown Dallas. Phil relocated his business to the heart of Manhattan across from Lincoln Center, which he considers the musical heart of the universe! He now spends his days overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Flute Center of New York. Phil invites all to visit the Flute Center. With a unique position in the flute world, you never know who you might meet here!

Claude Rozier, Repair Technician

Master technician and flute-maker Claude Rozier has an impressive breadth of experience, working internationally in the industry for over 35 years. Specializing in professional flute overhauls and COAs (clean, oil, adjust), Claude has been head technician at the Flute Center of New York since 1998. His thorough and precise work has garnered praise from some of the world's finest flutists, cementing his reputation as one of New York's finest flute technicians. Claude's interest in flute-making and design led him to an apprenticeship with the William S. Haynes Flute Company soon after graduating from Berklee College of Music. He went on to join Sankyo Flutes in Tokyo, Japan, where he lived and worked for 6 years, specializing in everything from padding and key-making, to headjoint design and finishing. Upon returning to the US, Claude became the Lead Flute and Piccolo Repair Technician for Music and Arts, where he was responsible for customer repair and inventory maintenance for over forty mid-Atlantic stores. Currently, Claude's intense interest in flute-making and design has led him to create a patented new shakuhachi-inspired flute with a full chromatic range. This prototype should be available to the public in 2016.

Julian Rose, Artist-in-Residence / Manager

A rising star in the classical music world, flutist Julian Rose has developed a reputation for dazzling audiences with his 'captivating sound and flawless technique.' He is an active teacher, performer, and freelancer in New York City, and he was a 2012-2013 William R. Kenan, Jr. Performing Arts Fellow at Lincoln Center. Currently, Julian is a 'Miyazawa Emerging Artist' and the Artist in Residence at the Flute Center of New York. Julian has performed as soloist across North America and Europe. He made his Orchestral-Soloist debut in 2013 at the Eastern Music Festival and the Appalachian Summer Festivals under Gerard Schwarz, and his Lincoln Center debut took place in January 2013, where he presented an original and thought-provoking show "Reflections on a New York City Park Bench," which paired 20th Century American flute music with original artwork by artists Selma-Rachel Swire and Gregory Romano. He has performed with the Western Piedmont Symphony Orchestra, 'The Tidewater Winds' Wind Ensemble, and the Master Musicians Chamber Orchestra, where he served as principal flute from 2009 to 2010. Recently, Julian has been awarded first prize at over a dozen regional and national competitions including the 2014 New York Flute Club Competition, the Second Annual Rosen-Schaffel Young Artist Competition (2012), The First Annual Seattle Flute Society Young Artist Competition (2013). Julian completed his Master of Music at UNC School of the Arts with Dr. Tadeu Coelho, and his Bachelor of Music at Virginia Commonwealth University. Julian also spent a year at the prestigious Université de Paris IV: La Sorbonne in Paris, France, where he undertook an intensive study in twentieth-century French music with the legendary Pierre-Yves Artaud, professor at the Paris Conservatory.

Yong-In Namkung, Repair Technician

The Flute Center of New York is excited to welcome Master Technician Yong-In Namkung, who recently relocated to New York with his family after building an outstanding reputation at his own shop in Seoul, South Korea. Originally trained as a flutist, Yong-In was a member of the South Korean Airforce Band for three years before moving to Vermont to work at the Landell Flute factory. He later received additional repair training by Brannen Brothers, David Straubinger, Verne Q. Powell, Sankyo, and Burkart, and went on to become the Professor of Flute Making and Repair at Kuyungwon and Injae Universities. Upon returning to Seoul, Mr. Namkung opened up shop in the Seochodong/Seoul Arts Center district and quickly established himself as one of the most important figures in the Korean flute scene. He developed his own line of student and intermediate instruments - NK Flutes - and had a full service shop in Seoul, where he was the exclusive Korean importer of Powell, Brannen, and Burkart flutes, among many others. As a repair technician, Mr. Namkung has a long list of elite clients, including Denis Bouriakov, Bradley Garner, and Linda Chesis, to name a few. Now he brings his outstanding skill and international reputation to the Flute Center of New York!

Emily Wespiser, Marketing Manager / Resident Flutist

A native of the Berkshires, Massachusetts, Emily Wespiser is an active teacher and performer living in Brooklyn, NY. Emily's most recent engagements include orchestral appearances with New Jersey-based Symphony in C, Calpulli Mexican Dance Company, Litha Symphony, Richmond County Symphony Orchestra, and One World Symphony. Emily is a member in The Metropolitan Four flute quartet, performing at notable venues Wave Hill (Bronx) and the Harlem Dance Theatre, and at the 2015 National Flute Association Convention.

During her summers, Emily has performed at music festivals across the United States, including the Lake George Music Festival, the Brevard Music Center, and Opera in the Ozarks. Previously acting as the Detroit Civic Youth Orchestra mentor, she has played under esteemed DSO conductor Leonard Slatkin alongside international soloist Emanuel Ax. An advocate for new music, Emily has premiered works by composers Josh Oxford, David Biedenbender, Marco Schirripa, Peter Learn, and Gordon Stout. Currently, Emily is pursuing her doctorate in flute performance at Stony Brook University, under the tutelage of Ms. Carol Wincenc. Emily holds a B.M. from Ithaca College, and completed her Masters of Music at the University of Michigan, under the direction of flutist Amy Porter. Emily has maintained a private flute studio since 2009 and is passionate about music education. Learn more at www.emilywespiser.com

Caity Massoud, Resident Flutist

Caity Massoud is an accomplished prize-winning flutist, noted for her “luscious, sparkly and cantando voice rich with harmonic overtones,” and most recently received the audience favorite prize and third place in the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Young Artist Competition. Caity also won runner-up in the Moores School of Music Concerto Competition and was a finalist in the Mid-Texas Symphony Young Artist Competition.

In addition to concert engagements as a featured soloist, Caity has performed as an orchestral musician under the baton of Rossen Milanov, Carl St. Clair, Lavard Skou-Larsen, Daniel Hege, Josep Caballé-Domenech, and Brett Mitchell. She currently holds the Fourth Flute/Second Piccolo chair with the Wichita Symphony Orchestra and is Third Flute/Piccolo with the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra. Caity also frequently plays chamber music across the United States and abroad and was featured with the contemporary chamber group AURA on KUHA 91.7 Classical NPR program, “The Front Row.” Caity is also interested in performing a breadth of styles and has collaborated as both section member and soloist in concerts with the Frontier Jazz Orchestra and Moores Jazz Orchestra.

Caity has participated in summer festivals and institutes including the Lake Tahoe Music Festival, Texas Music Festival, Symphony Orchestra Academy of the Pacific in British Columbia, ARIA International Summer Academy for chamber music, and Summer for Music and Dance in Florence, Italy.

Since completing her Bachelor of Music from Temple University with Philadelphia Orchestra Associate Principal flutist David Cramer and a Master’s in Music from New York University with Keith Underwood, Caity has gone on to pursue her DMA at the University of Houston. There, she studied with Houston Symphony Principal Flutist, Aralee Dorough, and conducted research on her dissertation topic, “French Women Perpetuating the French Tradition: Paris Conservatory Flute Contest Pieces by Women Composers.” A condensed version of Caity's dissertation was published in the December 2015 issue of Flute Talk Magazine. Learn more at caitymassoud.com

Kim Lewis, Resident Flutist

Kim Lewis is a New York-based flutist with great passion as a performer and teacher. Informed by a rounded education in the arts throughout her childhood in Ohio, including study in dance, voice, and piano, she brings a wealth of experiences to her focus on the flute.

As a soloist, Kim received first place in the 2014 Central Ohio Flute Association Competition - Collegiate Division. She was also a finalist in both 2012 and 2013 in Bowling Green State University's concerto competition. She has collaborated with numerous chamber ensembles, acquiring honors in the Lillian Fuchs Chamber Competition and the Douglas Wayland Chamber Competition.

Passionate about teaching, Kim has consistently taught private lessons since high school. Her diverse educational experience ranges from one-on-one instruction to leading full band rehearsals of students from 9 to 18 years old. Kim is frequently sought out for the instruction of young flutists. Most recently, Kim has collaborated with the Manhattan School of Music Outreach and Distance Learning programs, where she teaches students in New York City and across the country.

Kim has performed in masterclasses for Carol Wincenc, Amy Porter, Christina Jennings, Stefan Hoskuldsson, George Pope, Yoobin Son, Jim Walker, Eric Lamb, Thomas Robertello, James Hall, and Sarah Frisof. In 2013, she attended the Sewannee Summer Music Festival, where she studied with Patricia George. She holds degrees in Music Education and Flute Performance from Bowling Green State University, where she studied with Conor Nelson and Nina Assimakopoulos. Currently, she is pursuing a master's degree in Flute Performance at the Manhattan School of Music, where she studies with Linda Chesis. Learn more at kvlewis.com

Morgan Pappas, Resident Flutist

A native of New York, Morgan Pappas is a versatile flutist, chamber musician, and music educator. She has performed with numerous orchestras and chamber ensembles at venues such as David Geffen Hall, Carnegie Hall, and Symphony Space, and has toured internationally throughout the United States, Western Europe, Northern Africa, and Mexico. Morgan currently enjoys performing as a member of the Hudson Flute and Guitar Duo, as a member of the Red Door Chamber Players based in Long Island, NY, and as a professional member of the Westchester Band during their annual summer concert series. Morgan recently graduated from Aaron Copland School of Music with a Master of Music in Flute Performance where she studied with Susan Rotholz. She graduated with a Bachelors of Music from New York University, where she was awarded an annual talent scholarship and studied with Artist Faculty member Kathleen Nester. Morgan was principal flutist of the NYU Community Orchestra from 2009 to 2014, and the orchestra’s manager from 2011-2013.

Passionate about music education, Morgan has an extensive private studio of flute students throughout Westchester and NYC. She has worked for the Multicultural Music Group as the Band Director, the Harmony Program as the Program Manager, and currently serves as a Board Member for the nonprofit organization, Songcatchers Inc. Learn more at www.morganflute.com

Agata Matusiak, Resident Flutist

Agata Matusiak is a New York City-based flutist and piccolo player dedicated to performing and teaching classical music.

Her recent engagements include appearances with the Richmond County Orchestra, Wind Ensemble Society of New York City and Calpulli Mexican Dance Company with whom she performed in The Town Hall Theatre in New York City and The Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, New Jersey.

An accomplished soloist, Agata has been the laureate of many national solo flute competitions including National Flute Festival in Sochaczew, Poland (2008, 2009, 2011) and 5th Flute Meetings in Piotrków Trybunalski, Poland (2010). She also appeared as a soloist during the New York Flute Club Masterclass Series (2012), and in ‘Beyond the Master Class’ with internationally-acclaimed flutist Jim Walker in Los Angeles (2014, 2017).

Agata has played flute and piccolo with the Jelenia Gora Philharmonic and the Zielona Gora Philharmonic in Poland, toured with American Wind Symphony Orchestra in West Virginia under the baton of Robert Boudreau, and performed with the International Lutoslawski Youth Orchestra under the baton of Ewa Strusinska in Szczecin, Poland.

A prize-winning chamber musician, Agata has been a member of an award-winning flute quartet (winning first prize at the National Flute Meetings Competition in Poland), a piano-cello-flute ensemble (winning 2nd prize at the ‘Confrontations of Musical Ensembles’ in Poland), and an early music ensemble “PROAVITUS,” with whom she toured through Northern and Central Europe, performing in Sweden, Holland, Germany, Belgium, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Austria.

Agata has performed in esteemed venues including Thayer Hall in Los Angeles, Mary Flagler Cary Hall at DiMenna Center and The Town Hall Theatre in New York, The Count Basie Theatre in New Jersey, Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, Warsaw Philharmonic Chamber Hall in Poland, National Forum of Music Concert Hall in Poland.